Cricket: Fans at Old Trafford were again left disappointed as the second of England's Twenty20 internationals against Australia was washed out without a ball being bowled.
After Sunday’s match was abandoned seven balls into the England reply, tonight’s day/night clash went the same way at 8pm local time after officials ruled that the bowlers’ run-ups were waterlogged.
It is a frustrating way for the series to finish and leaves both sides short of Twenty20 practise ahead of next April’s World Twenty20 in the West Indies.
Thunderstorms in Manchester in mid-afternoon ensured play was always likely to be under threat and further showers in the evening meant an umpires’ inspection occurred at 7pm, the advertised start time.
A second inspection followed at 7.45pm and by then it became apparent that the work of the groundstaff in preparing the run-ups had been in vain.
The one-day leg of the tour continues with seven one-day internationals, the first of which takes place at The Oval on Friday.